http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070915/wl_nm/iraq_anbar_dc_4;_ylt=AhHE9AjB52SuE5F3K5MteAplM3wV

While the outcome is as uncertain as ever, it does seem that the murder of Abu Risha may not cause the total collapse of the effort by the Sunnis to rid their country of Al Qaeda and it's murderous influence.

I wonder, however, if this guy is a big a leader as described. I'm not on the ground and I don't know, but I often look with skepticism at how the media portray these "leaders." If he's a big-whig and all continues well for the Sunni, then it's a great thing. If he's really only a little fish, then who knows what affect this will have.

BT

when a year or so ago he was having his people kill us

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070915/wl_nm/iraq_anbar_dc_4;_ylt=AhHE9AjB52SuE5F3K5MteAplM3wV

While the outcome is as uncertain as ever, it does seem that the murder of Abu Risha may not cause the total collapse of the effort by the Sunnis to rid their country of Al Qaeda and it's murderous influence.

Anbar is the perfect evidence for supporting our leaving Iraq. I've been saying all along, until we leave Iraqis won't step up and wipe out al queda. Once we go they will be forced to address the al queda issue.

Right now, Iraqis don't think killing an occupying American soldier is a bad thing. They want their country back. Once they handle the al queda issue they will turn their guns back onto us.

Lets leave and let them wipe out al queda, and then let them have their civil war and a new Saddam will step up. What was it that Machiavelli said, an oppressed people once freed are highly susceptible to being oppressed again...

funny how they use Anbar where no surge took place to sell the surge

Anbar works because we stepped down, they had to step up

Interestingly, some of the quell in violence has been attributed to the lack of diversity among population clusters. Sunni neighborhoods have rid themselves of Shia and vice versa.

In the end what's probably going to happen is a 3-state "state" and it's on it's way to happening, just more on a local level for now.

BT

I wonder, however, if this guy is a big a leader as described. I'm not on the ground and I don't know, but I often look with skepticism at how the media portray these "leaders." If he's a big-whig and all continues well for the Sunni, then it's a great thing. If he's really only a little fish, then who knows what affect this will have.

BT

I don't know how it will work out or even who this guy is but we have seen how strong their resolve can be so we can all hope that this is on the level. It is hard to differentiate between tragedy and catastrophe in this region, both occur on a regular basis.

I don't know how it will work out or even who this guy is but we have seen how strong their resolve can be so we can all hope that this is on the level. It is hard to differentiate between tragedy and catastrophe in this region, both occur on a regular basis.

they share the same resolve of ridding each other (Sunni v Shi'a) which is why as pointed out, 'cleansed' neighborhoods are now doing quite well.

which is why where they mix violence is still high, it's called 'sectarian violence' also known as 'religiously based civil war'

but you'd know this if you actually paid attention. but you think Al Qaeda is causing all the trouble even though they are only responsibile for around 5%.
But that's what you get when your news sources are 'admin approved'

they share the same resolve of ridding each other (Sunni v Shi'a) which is why as pointed out, 'cleansed' neighborhoods are now doing quite well.

which is why where they mix violence is still high, it's called 'sectarian violence' also known as 'religiously based civil war'

but you'd know this if you actually paid attention. but you think Al Qaeda is causing all the trouble even though they are only responsibile for around 5%.
But that's what you get when your news sources are 'admin approved'

Y'all some smart, well educated dudes here and I'm way out of my element when I get into a statistical debate, but I ain't stupid or incapable of rational thought. After watching the lies and distortions repeated here about the Petraeus report, I doubt the credibility of you or anyone else whose mind is completely closed to the posibility of success in Iraq. Now I'm not blind to the fact that the violence has been sectarian and I didn't hear Petraeus try to denie it either. If you have two tons of TNT, the match that lights the fuse is a relativly small part of the resulting explosion, it is a fact though that if you remove it the explosion doesn't occur. Trust me, I'm paying attention.